Skip to main content
Erschienen in: Urban Forum 3/2012

01.09.2012

Community Governance in Urban South Africa: Spaces of Political Contestation and Coalition

verfasst von: Obvious Katsaura

Erschienen in: Urban Forum | Ausgabe 3/2012

Einloggen

Aktivieren Sie unsere intelligente Suche um passende Fachinhalte oder Patente zu finden.

search-config
loading …

Abstract

This paper deploys the concept of community governance in problematising the relationships between community-based organisations which generate participation in decision making at local or neighbourhood levels. I integrate Bourdieu’s “field theory” with the concept of “nodal governance”; conceptualising community governance as constituting a ‘field of local power politics’ in which community-based organisations enrol and contest each other. These organisations enrol and contest each other as they struggle for political legitimacy, control of knowledge and access to economic resources and power. It is against a backdrop characterised by the contestation–coalition oxymoron that I raise questions about the (anti-)democratic dynamics between and within participation-generating community-based organisations. This analysis is embedded in a case study of community politics in Yeoville, Johannesburg.

Sie haben noch keine Lizenz? Dann Informieren Sie sich jetzt über unsere Produkte:

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

  • über 102.000 Bücher
  • über 537 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

  • Automobil + Motoren
  • Bauwesen + Immobilien
  • Business IT + Informatik
  • Elektrotechnik + Elektronik
  • Energie + Nachhaltigkeit
  • Finance + Banking
  • Management + Führung
  • Marketing + Vertrieb
  • Maschinenbau + Werkstoffe
  • Versicherung + Risiko

Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

Springer Professional "Technik"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Technik" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

  • über 67.000 Bücher
  • über 390 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

  • Automobil + Motoren
  • Bauwesen + Immobilien
  • Business IT + Informatik
  • Elektrotechnik + Elektronik
  • Energie + Nachhaltigkeit
  • Maschinenbau + Werkstoffe




 

Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

Fußnoten
1
WCRB stands for Ward Committee Resource Book and WLG stands for White Paper on Local Government.
 
2
It is because of the need to conceptualise the neighbourhood as a ‘socio-spatial entity’ and ‘political community’ that I chose to use the concept of ‘community governance’ to explore political relationships within and between participation-generating community organisations.
 
3
This paper is a product of my ongoing Ph.D. research partly funded by the Volkswagen Foundation and integrated into Yeoville Studio, which is an initiative of the School of Architecture and Planning, University of the Witwatersrand; where a number of joint research initiatives are being developed.
 
4
Hijacked houses are those houses that have been unlawfully occupied and are under the unlawful control of an individual or group without the consent or approval of the owner.
 
5
RDP houses are houses built under the National Housing Subsidies Scheme in South Africa, and are commonly named after the South African government’s Reconstruction and Development Plan (RDP).
 
6
These are buildings that have been neglected by owners. The problem of bad and abandoned buildings in Yeoville is compounded by the fact that several of them are classified by some members of the community as “hijacked buildings”.
 
7
YSF General Meeting, 19 August 2010
 
8
Zack et al. (2010: 9) define “bad buildings” as buildings which were once sound in physical structure, management, use and occupancy, but have become dysfunctional in one or more ways. Such buildings do not meet minimum requirements as stipulated in municipal by-laws and are a threat to the health and safety of occupants, neighbouring buildings and the environment (Zack et al. 2010: 9).
 
9
I wish to thank Dr. Claire Benit-Gbaffou for assistance in developing this point.
 
10
I wish to acknowledge that the development of this point was aided by the contribution made by Prof. Laurence Piper during a CORUS writing workshop held in the School of Architecture and Planning at the University of the Witwatersrand from 12th to 13th of May 2011.
 
11
YBCEC is a pressure and advocacy created in November 2010. This advocacy group attempts to raise community awareness and lobby government agencies around community grievances pertaining to the commonly disdained but continuous granting of liquor licenses to liquor outlets, operation of illegal liquour outlets and rezoning of buildings among other challenges in Yeoville and Bellevue.
 
12
ANC stand for African National Congress; DA stands for Democratic Alliance and COPE stands for Congress of the People.
 
Literatur
Zurück zum Zitat Bayart, J. (1993). The State in Africa: The politics of the belly. London: Longman. Bayart, J. (1993). The State in Africa: The politics of the belly. London: Longman.
Zurück zum Zitat Benit, C. (2002). The rise or fall of the ‘community’? Post-apartheid housing policy in Diepsloot, Johannesburg. Urban Forum, 13(2), 47–66.CrossRef Benit, C. (2002). The rise or fall of the ‘community’? Post-apartheid housing policy in Diepsloot, Johannesburg. Urban Forum, 13(2), 47–66.CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Benit-Gbaffou, C. (2006). Police-community partnerships and responses to crime: Lessons from Yeoville and Observatory, Johannesburg. Urban Forum, 17(4), 301–326.CrossRef Benit-Gbaffou, C. (2006). Police-community partnerships and responses to crime: Lessons from Yeoville and Observatory, Johannesburg. Urban Forum, 17(4), 301–326.CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Benit-Gbaffou, C. (2010). Local democracy, clientelism and the (re)politicisation of urban governance—reflexions from Johannesburg stories. In Vishnu Padayachee, Chris Cramer, Bill Freund, Keith Hart, Nicolas Pons-Vignon (Eds.), The Political Economy of Africa, London: Routledge, pp. 286–300. Benit-Gbaffou, C. (2010). Local democracy, clientelism and the (re)politicisation of urban governance—reflexions from Johannesburg stories. In Vishnu Padayachee, Chris Cramer, Bill Freund, Keith Hart, Nicolas Pons-Vignon (Eds.), The Political Economy of Africa, London: Routledge, pp. 286–300.
Zurück zum Zitat Benit-Gbaffou, C., & Mkwanazi, E. (2011). Constructing communities through invited spaces of participation—the management of xenophobic discourses in public meetings in Yeoville. Presentation to the CORUS seminar, 31 January–2 February 2011, Wits University, Johannesburg. Benit-Gbaffou, C., & Mkwanazi, E. (2011). Constructing communities through invited spaces of participation—the management of xenophobic discourses in public meetings in Yeoville. Presentation to the CORUS seminar, 31 January–2 February 2011, Wits University, Johannesburg.
Zurück zum Zitat Bourdieu, P. (1977). Outline of a theory of practice. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Bourdieu, P. (1977). Outline of a theory of practice. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Zurück zum Zitat Bourdieu, P. (1985). Social space and the production of groups. Theory and Society, 14(6). Bourdieu, P. (1985). Social space and the production of groups. Theory and Society, 14(6).
Zurück zum Zitat Bourdieu, P. (1990). The logic of practice. Cambridge: Polity Press. Bourdieu, P. (1990). The logic of practice. Cambridge: Polity Press.
Zurück zum Zitat Braithwaite, J. (1999). Accountability and governance under the New Regulatory State. Australian Journal of Public Administration, 58(1), 90–94.CrossRef Braithwaite, J. (1999). Accountability and governance under the New Regulatory State. Australian Journal of Public Administration, 58(1), 90–94.CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Buccus, I., Hemson, D., Hicks, J., & Piper, L. (2007). Public participation and local governance: Research Report prepared by the Centre for Public Participation (CCP) in association with Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) and the University of KwaZulu Natal (May 2007). Buccus, I., Hemson, D., Hicks, J., & Piper, L. (2007). Public participation and local governance: Research Report prepared by the Centre for Public Participation (CCP) in association with Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) and the University of KwaZulu Natal (May 2007).
Zurück zum Zitat Cohen, J., & Sabel, C. (1997). Directly-deliberative polyarchy. European Law Journal, 3(4), 313–342.CrossRef Cohen, J., & Sabel, C. (1997). Directly-deliberative polyarchy. European Law Journal, 3(4), 313–342.CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Cornwall, A. (2004). Spaces for transformation? Reflections on issues of power and difference in participation in development. In S. Hickey & G. Mohan (Eds.), Participation from tyranny to transformation: Exploring new approaches to participation in development (pp. 75–91). London: Zed Books. Cornwall, A. (2004). Spaces for transformation? Reflections on issues of power and difference in participation in development. In S. Hickey & G. Mohan (Eds.), Participation from tyranny to transformation: Exploring new approaches to participation in development (pp. 75–91). London: Zed Books.
Zurück zum Zitat Cornwall, A., & Gaventa, J. (2001). Bridging the gap: citizenship, participation and accountability. PLA Notes, 40, 32–35. Cornwall, A., & Gaventa, J. (2001). Bridging the gap: citizenship, participation and accountability. PLA Notes, 40, 32–35.
Zurück zum Zitat Crawford, A. (1999). The local governance of crime: appeals to community and partnerships. Oxford: Oxford University Press Crawford, A. (1999). The local governance of crime: appeals to community and partnerships. Oxford: Oxford University Press
Zurück zum Zitat Crawford, A. (2006). Networked governance and the post-regulatory state? Steering, rowing and anchoring the provision of policing and security. Theoretical Criminology, 10(2), 449–478.CrossRef Crawford, A. (2006). Networked governance and the post-regulatory state? Steering, rowing and anchoring the provision of policing and security. Theoretical Criminology, 10(2), 449–478.CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Dryzek, J. (2002). Deliberative Democracy and Beyond: Liberals, Critics, Contestations. Oxford: Oxford University Press.CrossRef Dryzek, J. (2002). Deliberative Democracy and Beyond: Liberals, Critics, Contestations. Oxford: Oxford University Press.CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Duffy, K., & Hutchinson, J. (1997). Urban policy and the turn to community. The Town Planning Review, 68, 347–362. Duffy, K., & Hutchinson, J. (1997). Urban policy and the turn to community. The Town Planning Review, 68, 347–362.
Zurück zum Zitat Elwood, S. (2006). Beyond cooptation or resistance: Urban spatial politics, community organisations, and GIS-based spatial narratives. Annals of the Association of American Geographers, 96(2), 323–341.CrossRef Elwood, S. (2006). Beyond cooptation or resistance: Urban spatial politics, community organisations, and GIS-based spatial narratives. Annals of the Association of American Geographers, 96(2), 323–341.CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Ferguson, J. (2006). Global shadows: Africa in the neoliberal world order. Durham: Duke University Press Books. Ferguson, J. (2006). Global shadows: Africa in the neoliberal world order. Durham: Duke University Press Books.
Zurück zum Zitat Gaventa, J. (2006a). Finding spaces for change. IDS Bulletin Number 6, November. Institute of Development studies. Gaventa, J. (2006a). Finding spaces for change. IDS Bulletin Number 6, November. Institute of Development studies.
Zurück zum Zitat Gaventa, J. (2006b). Triumph, deficit or contestation? Deepening the deepening democracy debate. IDS Working Paper in conjunction with LogoLink and the Citizenship DRC. Gaventa, J. (2006b). Triumph, deficit or contestation? Deepening the deepening democracy debate. IDS Working Paper in conjunction with LogoLink and the Citizenship DRC.
Zurück zum Zitat Habermas, J. (1979). Communication and the evolution of society. London: Heinemann. Habermas, J. (1979). Communication and the evolution of society. London: Heinemann.
Zurück zum Zitat Holliday, I. (2000). Is the British state hollowing out? The Political Quarterly, 71(2), 167–176.CrossRef Holliday, I. (2000). Is the British state hollowing out? The Political Quarterly, 71(2), 167–176.CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Jenkins, R. (1992). Pierre Bourdieu: Key Sociologists. London: Routledge. Jenkins, R. (1992). Pierre Bourdieu: Key Sociologists. London: Routledge.
Zurück zum Zitat Kymlicka, W. (2001). Politics in the vernacular: Nationalism and citizenship. Oxford: Oxford University Press.CrossRef Kymlicka, W. (2001). Politics in the vernacular: Nationalism and citizenship. Oxford: Oxford University Press.CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Lefebvre, H. (1991). The production of space. Translated by Donald Nicholson-Smith. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing. Lefebvre, H. (1991). The production of space. Translated by Donald Nicholson-Smith. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing.
Zurück zum Zitat Lemanski, C. (2008). Houses without community: problems of community (in) capacity in Cape Town, South Africa. Environment and Urbanization, 20(2), 393–410.CrossRef Lemanski, C. (2008). Houses without community: problems of community (in) capacity in Cape Town, South Africa. Environment and Urbanization, 20(2), 393–410.CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat McEwan, C. (2005). New spaces of citizenship? Rethinking gendered participation and empowerment in South Africa. Political Geography, 24(8), 969–991.CrossRef McEwan, C. (2005). New spaces of citizenship? Rethinking gendered participation and empowerment in South Africa. Political Geography, 24(8), 969–991.CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Miraftab, F. (2004) Invited and invented spaces of participation: neoliberal citizenship and feminists’ expanded notion of politics. Wagadu, Volume 1, Spring 2004, pp. 1–7. Miraftab, F. (2004) Invited and invented spaces of participation: neoliberal citizenship and feminists’ expanded notion of politics. Wagadu, Volume 1, Spring 2004, pp. 1–7.
Zurück zum Zitat Miraftab, F., & Wills, S. (2005). Insurgency and space of active citizenship. The story of Western Cape Anti-eviction campaign in South Africa. Journal of Planning Education and Research, 25(2), 200–217.CrossRef Miraftab, F., & Wills, S. (2005). Insurgency and space of active citizenship. The story of Western Cape Anti-eviction campaign in South Africa. Journal of Planning Education and Research, 25(2), 200–217.CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Moyo, J. (1993) Civil society in Zimbabwe. Zambezia (1993), XX (i). Moyo, J. (1993) Civil society in Zimbabwe. Zambezia (1993), XX (i).
Zurück zum Zitat Nyamnjoh, F. B. (2006). Insiders and Outsiders: Citizenship and Xenophobia in Southern Africa. London: Zed Books. Nyamnjoh, F. B. (2006). Insiders and Outsiders: Citizenship and Xenophobia in Southern Africa. London: Zed Books.
Zurück zum Zitat Nyamnjoh, F. B. (2010). Racism, ethnicity and the media in Africa: reflections inspired by studies of xenophobia in Cameroun and South Africa. Africa Spectrum, 45(1), 57–93. Nyamnjoh, F. B. (2010). Racism, ethnicity and the media in Africa: reflections inspired by studies of xenophobia in Cameroun and South Africa. Africa Spectrum, 45(1), 57–93.
Zurück zum Zitat Pasotti, E. (2010). Political branding in cities: The decline of machine politics in Bogota, Naples and Chicago. Cambridge: Cambridge University press. Pasotti, E. (2010). Political branding in cities: The decline of machine politics in Bogota, Naples and Chicago. Cambridge: Cambridge University press.
Zurück zum Zitat Pillora, S., & McKinlay, P. (2011). Local governance and community governance: a literature review: Working paper No.2: An Australian government initiative. Pillora, S., & McKinlay, P. (2011). Local governance and community governance: a literature review: Working paper No.2: An Australian government initiative.
Zurück zum Zitat Piper, L., & Deacon, R. (2008a). Partisan ward committees and community participation: The Msundizi case. Critical Dialogue—Public Participation in Review. Durban, Centre for Public Participation. Piper, L., & Deacon, R. (2008a). Partisan ward committees and community participation: The Msundizi case. Critical DialoguePublic Participation in Review. Durban, Centre for Public Participation.
Zurück zum Zitat Piper, L., & Deacon, R. (2008b). Party politics, elite accountability and public participations: ward committee politics in Msundizi Municipality. Transformation, 66(67), 76–96. Piper, L., & Deacon, R. (2008b). Party politics, elite accountability and public participations: ward committee politics in Msundizi Municipality. Transformation, 66(67), 76–96.
Zurück zum Zitat Rhodes, R. A. W. (1996). The new governance: governing without government1. Political Studies, 44(4), 652–667.CrossRef Rhodes, R. A. W. (1996). The new governance: governing without government1. Political Studies, 44(4), 652–667.CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Shearing, C., & Wood, J. (2003). Nodal governance, democracy and the new denizens. Journal of Law and Society., 30(3), 400–419.CrossRef Shearing, C., & Wood, J. (2003). Nodal governance, democracy and the new denizens. Journal of Law and Society., 30(3), 400–419.CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Sinwell, L. (2009). Participatory spaces and the Alexandra Vukunzele Crisis Committee (AVCC): reshaping government plans. Social Dynamics, 35(2), 436–449.CrossRef Sinwell, L. (2009). Participatory spaces and the Alexandra Vukunzele Crisis Committee (AVCC): reshaping government plans. Social Dynamics, 35(2), 436–449.CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Stewart, J., & Clarke, M. (1996). Developments in Local Government (Discussion Paper), Institute of Local Government Studies. UK: University of Birmingham. Stewart, J., & Clarke, M. (1996). Developments in Local Government (Discussion Paper), Institute of Local Government Studies. UK: University of Birmingham.
Zurück zum Zitat Swyngedouw, E. (2011). Interrogating post-democratization: reclaiming egalitarian political spaces. Political Geography, 30, 370–380.CrossRef Swyngedouw, E. (2011). Interrogating post-democratization: reclaiming egalitarian political spaces. Political Geography, 30, 370–380.CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Totikidis, V., & Armstrong, A. F., et al. (2005). The concept of community governance: A preliminary review. Refereed paper presented at the Govnet Conference, Monash University, Melbourne 28th–30th November, 2005, Centre for International Corporate Governance Research, Faculty of Business and Law, Victoria University. Totikidis, V., & Armstrong, A. F., et al. (2005). The concept of community governance: A preliminary review. Refereed paper presented at the Govnet Conference, Monash University, Melbourne 28th–30th November, 2005, Centre for International Corporate Governance Research, Faculty of Business and Law, Victoria University.
Zurück zum Zitat Vergunst, P. J. B. (2006). Community cohesion: constructing boundaries between or within communities-of-place. The Rural Citizen: Governance, Culture and Wellbeing in the 21st Century. University of Plymouth. Vergunst, P. J. B. (2006). Community cohesion: constructing boundaries between or within communities-of-place. The Rural Citizen: Governance, Culture and Wellbeing in the 21st Century. University of Plymouth.
Zurück zum Zitat WCRB (Ward Committee Resource Book) (2005). Making ward committees function: Ward Committee resource book - Best practices and lessons learnt for municipal officials, councillors and local governance practitioners. Department: Provincial and Local government, Republic of South Africa (in partnership with GTZ), Idasa and Afesis-corplan. December 2005. WCRB (Ward Committee Resource Book) (2005). Making ward committees function: Ward Committee resource book - Best practices and lessons learnt for municipal officials, councillors and local governance practitioners. Department: Provincial and Local government, Republic of South Africa (in partnership with GTZ), Idasa and Afesis-corplan. December 2005.
Zurück zum Zitat Weatherford, M. S. (1992). Measuring political legitimacy. The American Political Science Review, 86(1), 149–166.CrossRef Weatherford, M. S. (1992). Measuring political legitimacy. The American Political Science Review, 86(1), 149–166.CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Wood, J., & Shearing, C. (2006). Security and nodal governance. Prepared for seminar at the Temple University Beasley School of Law Philadelphia, 25 October. Wood, J., & Shearing, C. (2006). Security and nodal governance. Prepared for seminar at the Temple University Beasley School of Law Philadelphia, 25 October.
Zurück zum Zitat WPLG, (1998). White Paper on Local Government. Government of South Africa, 9 March, 1998. WPLG, (1998). White Paper on Local Government. Government of South Africa, 9 March, 1998.
Zurück zum Zitat Yarwood, R. (2007). The geographies of policing. Progress in Human Geography, 31(4), 447–465.CrossRef Yarwood, R. (2007). The geographies of policing. Progress in Human Geography, 31(4), 447–465.CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Yeovue News (2011). “2011 local government elections in Yeoville Bellevue”. Yeovue News Vol 4, Number 14, page 2. Yeovue News (2011). “2011 local government elections in Yeoville Bellevue”. Yeovue News Vol 4, Number 14, page 2.
Zurück zum Zitat Zack, T., Bertoldi, A., Charlton, S., Kihato, M., & Silverman, M. (2010). Final Draft: Strategy for addressing bighted medium and high density residential “bad building” in Johannesburg. City of Johannesburg: Bad Buildings Strategy, Final Draft, 16 March 2010. Zack, T., Bertoldi, A., Charlton, S., Kihato, M., & Silverman, M. (2010). Final Draft: Strategy for addressing bighted medium and high density residential “bad building” in Johannesburg. City of Johannesburg: Bad Buildings Strategy, Final Draft, 16 March 2010.
Metadaten
Titel
Community Governance in Urban South Africa: Spaces of Political Contestation and Coalition
verfasst von
Obvious Katsaura
Publikationsdatum
01.09.2012
Verlag
Springer Netherlands
Erschienen in
Urban Forum / Ausgabe 3/2012
Print ISSN: 1015-3802
Elektronische ISSN: 1874-6330
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12132-011-9138-5

Weitere Artikel der Ausgabe 3/2012

Urban Forum 3/2012 Zur Ausgabe